A switching unit 10 for closing inlet passages 11 in an air intake system having a plurality of inlet passages 11 arranged side by side in an internal combustion engine. The switching unit 10 comprises one switched and one unswitched flow cross section 20 for each cylinder of the internal combustion engine, flap valves 12 and a shaft 27. The switched flow cross sections 20 can be closed and opened by flap valves 12 which are operated with the shaft 27, which is outside of the unswitched flow cross sections.